Semaphore-signal.



No. 805,433. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

R. HERMAN.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

APPLIOA'IION' FILED NOV. 21,1903.

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v 6- R-HQFIIZCZh 2 2% WW No. 805,433. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. R. HERMAN.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21,1903.

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Z Wses: Invent/0r. f 13 fi rm flizornegsi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINHOLD HERMAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF-NEW YORK.

SEMA PHORE-SIGNAL.

No. eosAea Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Applloation filed November 21, 1903. Serial No. 182,139- i To all whom it may concern/5 Be it known that I, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semaphore- Signals, of which the following is aspecifica tion, reference being held thereinto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful, improvements in semaphore-signals,

and in some of its aspects relates more par ticularly to that class of signalsknown as dwarf signals.

One object of the invention is toprovide means whereby the signal is locked inthe danger position, the locking device being controlled by theoperating-current'of the'motor, andconsequ'ently is unlocked by the'starting of the motor to permitthe signal to go to the clear. position.

A still further object is to provide a construction of locking device wherein the adjust ment may notbe changed from the standard conditions for which each was intended, all parts being fixed in their respective positions,

Other objects of my invention will appear as the same is described more in detail, and in so describing the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which l Figure '1 is a sectional elevation of my improved signal. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the housing or casing in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the locking device for holding the signal in clear position. Fig. 4 is an elevation thereof, partly in section.

The signal forming the [subject of this ap-" plication may readily, if desired, be controlled by train movements, with the employment of a circuit such, for instance, as shown in Patent No. 683,397, issued to me September 24, 1901. Though as the signal is of that type known as the dwarf signal, it is generally under manual control-as, for instance, operated from the switch-tower. .On account of the signal being located at the ground it must be locked in danger position, so as to make it impossible for any one to clear the signal by hand. The controlling devices and the locking device for the clear position of the mechanism are of the same principle as that shown in Letters Patent above referred to. In the present invention, however, there are important features involving invention which are not shown'in the patent referred to namel v, the feature of automatically returning the signal to a danger position by the actionof the counterweighted connecting-rod between the sector and the semaphore-shaft crank.

Another. feature of the present invention is that of locking the signal automatically in the danger position, and in the accompanying illustration I have shown, and will describe herein in detail, a practical embodiment of this feature, Without, however, limiting myself to the specific means shown and described for accomplishing this result.

4 Another'fe'ature of importance involved in the present application is the construction of the back plate to perform several different functions: first, serving to lock the standards in positive position; second, carrying the supports for the toggle and swinging lock-lever, and, third, actingalso as a support for the electromagnets.

By theparticiilar construction which is disarrang'ement of the parts by any unauthorized or unskilled persons to the detriment of the signal may not be possible. This same feature of construction is carried out in the clutch-magnets and the parts carrying the same.

I will now describe in detail a preferable embodiment of my invention, as illustrated herein, without limiting myself to the precise construction shown in the practice of the invention.

1 indicates the standards forming the frame- Work for the mechanism. The mechanism is preferably actuated to shift the signal by means of a motor 2, mounted on a bolt or rod 3, seated in lugs 4 on the bottom of the hous ing or casing, so that the motor may be swung on its mount to properly position the same. The motor is held securely after being adjusted by set-screws 4 or other suitable means. The armature-shaft 5 of the motor carries a high-speed pinion 6 to mesh with a gear 7, carried on a shaft 8, journaled in the standards. On this shaft 8 is also mounted a pin' ion 9, that meshes with a gear 10, carried on shaft 11, journaled in the standards, the said shaft also having a pinion 12 to mesh with gear 14 on shaft 15, the latter being also journaled' in the standards substantially on the same plane with the shaft 11. On the shaft 15 is a pinion 16, which meshes with the driving clutch gear-wheel 17, carried on the driveshaft 18. The drive-shaft 18 is journaled in the standards with both ends extended beyond the standards, and on one extended end ofthe drive-shaft is the circuit-controller 19 of a form and construction and of operation similar 'to that described in detail in my patent above referred to. The drive-shaft 18 also carries a rotary circuit-connector 20, which like the circuit-controller is not described in detail herein, as its purpose is well known to those skilled in the art, and it is shown and described in detail in the particular patent heretofore referred to'and also in other prior patents issued to me on signaling mechanism. The clutch drive-wheel is provided on its one face with teeth or extensions 17 arranged circumferentially to .be engaged by the swinging lock-lever of the clutch-magnets. These teeth or extensions 17 are substantially V shape in cross-section, and in my prior patent, N 0. 683,397, I provided the clutch drivewheel with V-shape recesses to receive said lever, and it will be evident that in the present construction I might employ the recesses in lieu of the teeth or extensions, though I prefer to employ the latter, as they serve, the same purpose as the recesses and the wheel is easier constructed with the teeth.

Mounted on the drive-shaft 18 is a sector 21, to which is pivotally connected the lower end of a counterweight connecting-rod 22, the upper end of said connecting-rod being pivotally connected to a crank 23, mounted on crank-shaft 24, that carries the semaphore-arm 25. The crank-shaft 24 also carries a lensframe 26, the lens in which is adapted to be brought in front of a lamp 27 for giving the signal at night. Formed integral with the sector 21 is an arm or bracket 28, from which the driving-clutch magnets and swinging locklever are supported. This device comprises in connection with the toggle-levers 29 30 and 'the swinging lock-lever 31 for engagement with the clutch driving-wheel 17 the electromagnets 32,and as the construction and mounting of this locking device embracing the parts enumerated is substantially identical with that of the locking device for locking the signal in the clear position I have shown the latter in detail and will describe the same, the one showing and description in detail being relied upon to sufiice for the showing of both constructions.

I will now proceed to describe in detail the locking device for holding the signal in the clear position.

I provide what I term a back plate 33, extending across the space between the two standards land having angular ends 34, which are securely bolted, as at 35, to the said standards, this plate therefore acting to securely brace the standards and hold the same. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the lugs 34 are adjacent the upper edge of the back plate and that the latter is also provided adjacent its lower edge with similar lugs 34', which are also bolted to the standards 1. ries a pair of lugs 36, in which is pivotally secured by a pivot-pin 37 the upper end of the swinging lock-lever 38, which at its lower end carries a tooth 39, adaptedto engage with.

notch or shoulder 40 of the sector 21 and lock the signal in the clear position. The back plate is provided near its upper edge with two forwardly-projecting arms or brackets 41, in which is pivoted by pivot-pin 42 the upper end of toggle-link 43, the lower end of said toggle-link 43 being pivotally connected by pivot-pin 44 to the upper end of togglelink 45, while the lower end of this togglelink 45 is pivotally connected by pivot-pin 46 to toggle-links 47 48. Toggle-link 47 is pivotally held at its outer end by pivot-pin 49 fastening the same to a pair of forwardly-extendi'ng brackets 50,carried by the back plate, while toggle-link 48 is connected by pivot-pin 51 to the lower end of the swinging lock-lever 38, the back plate being cut away to receive the link 48 therethrough and allow of the swinging movement of the toggle-links and lock-lever. The armature 52 of lock-magnets 53 is secured to the link 43, as by screw 53', while the cores 54 of the elcctromagnets are On its rear face this back plate car-. 7

at their rear ends threaded into a brass strap 7 or plate 55, secured to studs or posts 56, carried by the back plate 33, by machine-bolts 57 extending through said studs from the rear of the back plate and into bosses 55", carried at the ends of the brass member or plate 55. At their outer ends the cores '54 are made conical, as at 58, and these conical portions of the cores fit neatly in conical apertures provided therefor in the strap 59, connecting the two cores together. This strap is held in place by providing the ends of the cores with threaded apertures to receive the threaded shanks of screws 60,-washers 61 being placed between the heads of said screws and the strap 59.

As heretofore stated, means is provided for automatically locking the signal in the danger position, the locking device being controlled by the operating current of the motor, and I. will now describe in detail a practical embodiment of construction for carrying this result into effect. To accomplish this end, I mount in the standards 1 1 a shaft 62, which carries a lever 63. At its free end this lever has a hook end 64, adapted to engage in a notch 65, provided therefor in the crank-disk 66, mounted on the drive-shaft 18. This crank-disk is pivotally connected, as-at 67, to the stem or rod 6f the piston (not shown) operating in the cylinder 68, the piston and cylinder forming the dash-pot or buffer. This dash-pot or buffer is mounted on a shaft 69, mounted for partial rotation in the standards 1 1, whereby the dash-pot may oscillate during the movement of the mechanism to permitits proper alinement at all times. This, it will be observed, is necessary, due to the crank-disk being mounted on the drive-shaft extendiug portion or member 71, which car-- ries a pair of armatures 72, placed adjacent to the motor-fields, these armatures being attracted when the motor-fields are charged, and thereby pull the hook end of the lever out of its notch in the crank-disk to permit the signal to go to clear position. As practiced by me the parts 63 -71 of the lever have been made integral, though it will of course be evident that these may be two separate levers, each rigidly connected on the shaft 62 in any desired manner, whereby when the armatures 7 2 are attracted the hook end of lever 63 will be disengaged from the crank-disk.

The mechanism above described is suitably inclosed within a housing or casing 73 of a size and form to neatly inclose the said mechanism, provided at one end with a door 74 and at its top with a door 75, whereby access may be had to the mechanism atdifferent points, both doors being adapted to be suitably locked. On its top this housing or casing'carries a hollow extension 76, in which the crank-shaft 24 is journaled and into which hollow extension the counterweight connecting-rod 22 extends. The semaphore 25 and the lens-frame 26 are mounted on the crank-shaft outside the extension, and the lamp 27 is mounted on the upper end of said extension.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

signal is in its danger position and locked in of the teeth on the clutch drivewheel 17,

whereby as the motor through its train of gearing with the drive-shaft operates said shaft the sector 18 is carried around so as to move the signal, through the medium of conmeeting-rod 22 and crank 23, to the clear position. When the signal reaches the clear position, magnets 53 are energized, (the circuit beingcontrolled by circuit-controller 19,) and the tooth 39 of the swinging lock-lever 38 is engaged in notch 40 of the sector to hold the signal in the clear position. On the deenergization of motor 2 and clutch-magnets the counterweighted connecting-rod 22 and crank 23 serve to return the signal to danger position and hooked end of lever 63 drops into its notch ,in the crank-disk 66 and automatically locks the signal in danger position.

It is to be observed, therefore, in this connec tion that instead of employing a semaphorecasting outside to act as a counterweight to return the signal to danger position I employ the counterweight connecting-rod 22, which is entirely inclosed within the housing or caslng.

While I have herein shown and described in detail a practical embodiment of the invention as it is practiced by me, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the construction shown and described, as it will be evident that various changes may be made in the construction like has been indicated herein in the description without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A 1. In combination, a signal adapted to go to danger position automatically by gravity, means for locking said signal in danger position, operating mechanism for shifting the signal to clear position, an electric motor for driving said mechanism, and an armature within the magnetic field of said motor adapted when attracted to move said locking means.

2. In combination. a signal adapted togo to danger automatically by gravity, operating mechanism for shifting the signal to clear position, an electric motor for driving said mechanism, a pivoted lever adapted to engage said signal to lock it at danger position, and an armature carried by said lever adjacent to the motor field and adapted to be attracted thereby to move said lever out of engagement with said signal.

3. The combination with a signal normally locked in a danger position and movable to clear position, signal-operating mechanism for shifting the signal to clear position, means between the signal and the operating mechanism forming a connection and. also acting as a counterweight to move the signal to danger position, a motor for actuating the operating mechanism, and an armature within the fields of the motor adapted when attracted to unlock-the signal whereby it may be shifted to clear position.

4. In signals, the combination with a signal, and electrically-operated shifting means there for, of a locking device for holding the signal -in one of its positions, and embodying a bracket, togglelinks pivotally supported from the bracket, an armature carried bysaid links, studs carried by said bracket, a back plate secured to said studs, electromagnets having their cores threaded into said back plate, and a'swinging lock-lever pivotally supported frolrin the bracket and connected to the toggle- 5. In signals, the combination with a signal, and shifting means therefor, of a locking device embodying a bracket, a swinging locklever pivotally supported from the bracket, toggle-links pivotally supported from the bracket and pivotally connected to the swinging lock-lever, an armature connected to the toggle-links, a back plate connected to the bracket, electromagnets having one end of their cores engaged in said back plate with conical portions on their other ends, a strap fitted on said conical portions, and means for securing said strap.

6. In a signaling mechanism, the combination with the signal, and the signal-operating mechanism, of a locking device embodying a back plate secured to the frame of the signal mechanism, studs carried by said plate, bolts engaging in said studs to secure the plate,

electromagnets having one end of their cores threaded into said plate and their opposite ends provided with conical portions, a strap having conical apertures to receive said coneoaess ical portions, and means engaging in the ends of said cores for securing the straps to the cores.

7. A locking device embodying a bracket,

'a'swinging lock-lever pivoted thereto, studs carried by the bracket,-a back plate having studs engaging the studs of the bracket and secured thereto, electromagnets having their cores permanently fastened at one end in the back plate andtheir other ends permanently held by a strap secured thereon. 8. In signals, the combination with the signal, and the signal-operating mechanism, of

a locking device embodying a bracket secured to the frame of the signal mechanism, a swinging lock-lever pivotally suspended from the bracket and adapted to engage the part to be locked, toggle-levers pivotally connected to the bracket and to the swinging lock-lever, an armature carried by the toggle-levers, a back plate secured to the bracket, electromagnets having one end of their cores permanently fastened in said back plate, and a strap fitted on conical portions on the opposite end of said cores. and permanently secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REINHOLD HERMAN.

Witnesses:

A. M. VVlLson, E. E. POTTER. 

